EASTON, Pa. -
The 2012 women's soccer schedule features eight matches this season at Mike Bourger '44 Field at Oaks Stadium. Led by reigning Patriot League Coach of the Year Mick Statham, the Leopards are looking to continue the success from their 2011 season when they earned the No. 2 seed in the Patriot League Tournament.

All Patriot League home matches will be streamed live on GoLeopards.com once again this season. The complete GoLeopards.com streaming schedule will be announced later this summer.

"I am very happy with this year's schedule," Statham said. "It will give the players a chance to play against many different styles and coaching philosophies. This is important as we continue to develop our own style of play and test it against some very good teams. The Patriot League will be strong again, and stretch us and challenge us to be at our best every game."

The Leopards kick off their 2012 slate with a three-game road trip beginning at UMBC on Aug. 17, followed by a meeting with Howard on Aug. 19, and a trip north to Sacred Heart on Aug. 31. In 2011, Lafayette opened the season against Howard with a 1-0 double-overtime victory.

Lafayette's home opener is set for Sept. 2 when St. Peter's visits Oaks Stadium for a 7 p.m. kickoff. Last season the Leopards beat the Peahens 1-0, backed by a shutout from Lauren Smedley, the 2010 and 2011 Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year. Following the home opener, Lafayette heads back on the road for three more games in New Jersey and New York.

The swing of non-league games first takes Lafayette to Riverdale N.Y. to meet Manhattan on Sept. 7. After a meeting with the Jaspers, the Maroon and White will battle Farleigh Dickinson on Sept. 9 before traveling to West Long Branch N.J. to play Monmouth on Sept. 14. Lafayette defeated both Manhattan and Monmouth, 1-0, in the 2011 season.

Statham's bunch returns home for a four-game stretch to complete the month. Games against Wagner (9/16), Princeton (9/19), and NJIT (9/23) precede Lafayette's first league game of the year. The first conference test comes against historic rival Lehigh on Sept. 29. Last season, Lafayette edged the Mountain Hawks, 2-1, in Bethlehem.

Lafayette's final road trip begins with its last non-conference tilt of the year on Oct. 2 in Ithaca, N.Y. when the team meets Ivy League foe Cornell. Patriot League play resumes against Navy on Oct. 5 as Lafayette looks to avenge a 3-2 defeat by the Mids in the semifinal of last season's Patriot League Tournament.

A visit to the nation's capital awaits the squad when it challenges American on Oct. 7, before heading up to Worcester, Mass. to play Holy Cross on Oct. 13. Allison Stone propelled the Leopards past the Crusaders in 2011 to complete Lafayette's 6-0-0 home record.

A three-game homestand concludes the 2012 regular season, starting with a 7 p.m. match with Colgate on Oct 19. Bucknell then comes to College Hill on Oct. 21, before the regular-season finale against Army on Oct. 28. In 2011 Lafayette closed the regular season in West Point, N.Y. with a tie against the Black Knights and posted an overall Patriot League record of 4-2-1.

Lafayette welcomes seven newcomers as it enters the 2012 season and returns seven starters from last season's campaign. Smedley returns for her senior season as well as Stone, who will serve as captains in 2012. Second Team All-Patriot League selections Catherine Galgano and Alex Reisinger also return to the Leopards' back line this season.

Lafayette Athletics, as a partner in the mission of the College, provides an incredibly effective learning experience for student-athletes through competitive NCAA Division I athletics. Lafayette sponsors 23 varsity sports with more than 600 student-athletes.